As part of the next instalment in my international version of Guests’ Corner, I chatted to Jaya, a travel adventure blogger and digital media journalist.

Jaya’s exciting, visual blog, Jaya Bhujun – Travel & Adventures, showcases her travel adventures, favourite places and so much more. Through her blog, Jaya hopes to inspire, educate and entertain her readers, even as she enjoys her best adventures.

Her writing, photos and videos are detailed and descriptive, ensuring you get to see and experience the world through her adventurous and engaging travel eyes!

1) Who or what inspired you to go into travel blogging?

I used to make small adventures with friends on and off. Little by little, I came to realise that I was happier and more productive when exploring new places.

I did Digital Media Journalism at university… I knew different writing styles and about editing videos, which was a plus for me to start blogging and creating my own YouTube channel.

2) What kind of traveller are you: thrill seeker, culture vulture, adrenaline junkie, nature lover or some of everything?

I am more an adrenaline junkie and nature lover. I always find my energy up to climb the highest mountains.

I love nature the most because I always feel detached from the noisy world and feel an inner peace when I’m exploring.

3) Which are your top three most memorable travel experiences and why? Please list each one with a brief explanation.

1. My first hiking trip
I got up late to meet my friends for the hike. When I woke up, I found that I had my menses. But, still it didn’t change my mind about trying my first hike.

We started walking in peak sunshine. In the first few steps themselves, I was running out of breath. My belly was contracting more than it used to during my menses, as if testing my ability and whether I would give up. But I made it… On top of the mountain, I felt proud of myself and I just shouted, ‘’I made it’!’

2. My first adventure date
It was on top of the most beautiful mountain on my island, which is Le Morne in Mauritius. We did it together alone, which was not that easy. This mountain is known for its history in Mauritius… We kissed on top.

3. I explored a two-sided seashore

You can actually walk or swim, depending on the tides, to reach another seashore… This was so exciting for me!

4) What was your most humbling or eye-opening travel experience in your home country and why?

I live in Mauritius. One day, I invited my adventure friends to explore Eau Bleue waterfalls, which I myself had never visited before.

We went by bus and ended up somewhere else. We asked people for lifts and finally a van dropped us for free over there… These were the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve seen in Mauritius, with turquoise water… Such bliss!

5) Worst (local) travel experience?

My boyfriend and I found out about a waterfall (on Instagram) which we wanted to visit. One day, out of nowhere, we decided to visit it and knew that it was pretty easy to go. We were in flips flops.

When we reached the place, a guy (who didn’t seem like he wanted to help us) just said that there is the direction indicated – and, on that day there is no guide available.

We just saw an arrow somewhere and started walking…We walked a few kilometres and we still couldn’t find the waterfall. Our flip flops were so slippery in the mud. We figured out that there was nothing up top because we couldn’t find any shoe traces. Mosquitoes bit us all over the body, making big bumps and causing itchiness.

We decided to get down. We were half-dead… When we returned, the guy was laughing and said we wrongly took the direction. (There was no waterfall in that direction)… I could have kicked his ass that day.

6) Your top three travel destinations across the globe – either that you have personally experienced or would love to visit?

I would love to visit:

1. Bali

2. Greece

3. Thailand

7) Any useful travel sites/blogs that you can recommend for following?

Thank you very much, Jaya, for appearing in this guest travel segment.

Content writer by day and blogger by night, Tamlyn Ryan passionately runs her own travel blog, called Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust, from her home base of Cape Town, South Africa. And, despite a national diploma in Journalism, in her free time, Tamlyn’s preferred niche remains travel writing.

Tamlyn is a hopeless wanderer, equipped with an endless passion for road trips, carefully planned, holiday itineraries and, above all else, an innate love for the great outdoors.